The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-09-13
WANT the EARTH.
A Syndicate Said TO Control Indus
tries All over the Country.
Planning to Run All the Horse Rail-
roads and Gas Companies.
Summary Method Of Dealing with a
Case OF oysrproductIon.

CHICAGO, Sept. 12.-"The Chicago Tri-
bune" has published long article on the
schemes OF Messrs. Wldener, Elkins &
Yerkes, Of Philadelphia, which purports 10
show In detail how the syndicate Is fast get
ting control Of street railways, gas compan-
les and numerous other companies In all
parts Of the country. Some Of the asser-
tions made in the article are substantially as
follows:
The syndicate Of which Messrs. Widener
and Elklns are the head has s35,OO0OOO In
vested in street railway stocks and construe-
tion companies In the cities Of Philadelphia,
New York. Boston and Chicago. 1t is the
intention to push their schemes as far as
possible and to capture the street railroad
systems Of every large city in the country.
The plan by which money Is made out Of
these ventures is TO lease the operating COM
panies. then vote large blocks Of the stocks
Of these latter companies 10 the syndicate
for It's labors and advances, and then TO
kindly hand the stock thus voted over to
confding and unsuspecting public at fancy
figure. In this way Messrs. Widener and
Elkins received 10000 shares of stock from
the first construction company organized In
Chicago without having to expend one PEN
ny, nearly all the money for the deal having
been raised by John Lawler Welsh, OF Phil
adelphia. IL Is surmised that there Is a
hitch in the latest attempt at a deal by the
syndicate-the purchase Of the West side
road. When Mr.. Widener arrived In Phila-
delphia last week he was questioned con-
cerning the venture and eurtly replied: "rhe
newspapers know more Of that matter than
do"
Apart from the horse railroads, the syndi-
cate seeks to control the gas. and electric
lighting Of Chicago When the mask Is
thrown of there win be found behind the
Chicago Gas Trust that giant corporation
and the direct creature Of the Standard Oil
Company. the United Gas Improvement
Company Of Philadelphia. This concern to-
day owns and controls the gas works in
country. 1t seems TO hold all the gas works,
and 10 be ready TO gobble up all the electric
lighting companies, incandescent OF other
wise, and thus be able 70 fix such tariff as
suits its managers. William l.. Elkins Is a
principal figure In the United Gas Improve
ment Company. IL is one Of his babies, and
he has nurtured 1t carefully. The head Of
the concern Is George 5. Philler, president OF
the First National Bank OF Philadelphia,
which institution Is the depository for and
the backer Of the syndicate In its various
deals. The bold assault made by the syndl-
cate TO capture the gas works Of Philadel-
phia Is still fresh In memory.
The new scheme which needs attention Is
the American Felting Company and the
United Refining Company, twins that have
levied tribute upon every r0Ofer and con-
tractor that has undertaken TO lay Belgian
block pavements In the country George ID.
Widener and George w. Elkins are the rep
resentatlyes Of their families in these con
Germs. Horace w. Fowler Of New York Is
the manager Of the pool. The syndicate In
cludes the cities Of Chicago, st. Louis, Erie,
Brooklyn, Philadelphia and several others.
Not pound Of roofing pitch, not yard Of
felt roofing paper, and not gallon OF Davi-
er's pitch can be obtained In this country
unless Messrs Widener and Elkins raise
their fingers and give permissl on for It's
sale. The granite or Belgian block pave
ments recently laid In Chicago would have
cost from 81 tn S150 per yard less but for
this monopoly and the toll 1t exacts.
Roofing and paviers' pitch are made
and Elkins syndicate, controlling ali
the gas works in the country them
selves and having contracts with those they
do not control for the gas tar, have been
enabled to build up this great monopoly.
Paviers' pitch that costs the syndicate 80
agents at from 80 to 81 per barrel. The
price was formerly $3.50 per barrel, but the
great demand In recent years for Belgian
block pavements has caused an immense
consumption Of the pitch, which Is poured
between the cracks of the rows Of blocks.
The pool restricts the manufacture. Last
year $1,000 barrels Of pitch were burned In
Philadelphia by order Of the pool manager,
so as TO prevent the market being over
stocked. William II. Kemble Is credited
with many things in which he has no inter-
| est with his partners. Kemble confines him
| self strictly 10 railroad deals. Messrs. Wide
ner and Elkins have never done anything
that would bring them before court OF JUS
| tiee. They have in their employ retlnue OF
the highest paid attorneys in the country.